The Light Appearing Towards the Perfect Day, Letter 6
Much reſpected and beloved in our Lord Jeſus.
GOd is greatly to be adored in all his Providences, and hath evermore wiſe and holy ends to accompliſh that which we are not aware of; and therefore although he may ſeem to croſſe our ends with diſappointments after all our pains and expectations, yet he hath farther and better thoughts then we can reach unto, which will cauſe us to admire his love and wiſdome, when we ſee them accompliſhed; and yet he is gracious to accept of our ſincere labours for his name, though he diſappoint them in our way, and fruſtrate our expectations in our time; yea, he will fulfill our expectations in his way, and in his time, which ſhall finally appeare to the eye of faith, a better way then ours, and a fitter time then ours; his wiſdome is infinite.
For the work of the Lord among the Indians, I thank his Majeſty he ſtill ſmileth on it, he favoureth and bleſſeth it; through his help that ſtrengthneth me, I ceaſe not in my poor meaſure to inſtruct them; and I do ſee that they profit and grow in knowledge of the truth, and ſome of them in the love of it, which appeareth by a ready obedience to it; and to teſtifie their growth in knowledge, I will not (though I could do it if need were) trouble you with their queſtions; but I will only relate one ſtory which fell out about the fifth month of this yeere; Two of my hearers travelled to Providence and Warwick where Gorton liveth, and there they ſpent a Sabbath, and heard them in ſome exerciſes, and had much conference with them; for it ſeemeth they perceiving that they had ſome knowledge in Religion, and were of my hearers; they endeavour to poſſeſſe their minds with their opinions. When they came home, the next Lecture day, before I began the exerciſe, the company being not fully come together, one of them asked me this queſtion; What is the reaſon, that ſeeing thoſe Engliſh people, where he had be…, had the ſame Bible that we have▪ yet do not ſpeake the ſame things? I asked the reaſon of his queſtion; he ſaid, becauſe his brother and he had been at Providence and at Warwick, and he perceived by ſpeech with them, that they differ from us; he ſaid they heard their publike exerciſe, but did not underſtand what they meant, (though the man underſtandeth the Engliſh Language pretty well) But afterwards ſaid he, we had much ſpeech; I asked him in what points; and ſo much as his brother and he could call to minde, he related as followeth.
Firſt, ſaid he, they ſaid thus, they teach you that there is a Heaven and a Hell, but there is no ſuch matter; I asked him what reaſon they gave; he anſwered, that he ſaid there is no other Heaven, then what is in the hearts of good men; nor no other Hell, then what is in the hearts of bad men; Then I asked, and what ſaid you to that; ſaith he, I told them, I did not beleeve them, becauſe Heaven is a place whether good men go after this life is ended; and Hell is a place whether bad men go when they die, and cannot be in the hearts of men; I approved of this anſwer. I asked what elſe they ſpake? he anſwered, they ſpake of Baptiſm, and ſaid, that they teach you that infants muſt be baptized, but that is a very fooliſh thing; I asked him what reaſon they gave? He ſaid, becauſe infants neither know God nor Baptiſme, nor what they do, and therefore it is a fooliſh thing to do it; I asked him what he ſaid to that? He ſaid, he could not ſay much, but he thought it was better to baptize them while they be young, and then they are bound and engaged; but if you let them alone till they be grown up, it may be they will flie off, and neither care for God nor for Baptiſme; I approved of this anſwer alſo, and asked what elſe they ſpake of? He ſaid farther, they spake of Miniſters, and ſaid, they teach you that you muſt have Miniſters, but that is a needleſſe thing. I asked what reaſon they gave? He ſaid, they gave theſe reaſons, Firſt, Miniſters know nothing but what they learn out of Gods book, and we have Gods book as well as they and can tell wha… God ſaith. Again, Miniſters cannot change mens hearts, God muſt do that, and therefore there is no need of Miniſters. I asked him what he ſaid to that? He ſaid, that he told them, that we muſt do as God commands us, and if he commands to have Miniſters, we muſt have them. And farther I told them, I thought it was true, that Miniſters cannot change mens hearts; but when we do as God bids us, and hear Miniſters preach, then God will change our hearts. I approved this anſwer alſo I asked what elſe they ſpake of? He ſaid, They teach you that you muſt have Magiſtrates, but that is needleſſe, nor ought to be. I asked what reaſon they gave? He ſaid, That they gave this reaſon, becauſe Magiſtrates cannot give life, therefore they may not take away life; beſides, when a man ſinneth, he doth not ſinne againſt Magiſtrates, and therefore why ſhould they puniſh them? but they ſinne againſt God and therefore we muſt leave them to God to puniſh them. I asked him what he ſaid to that, he anſwered, I ſaid to that as to the former, we muſt do as God commands us; If God command us to have Magiſtrates, and commands them to puniſh ſinners, them we muſt obey. I approved this alſo.
I asked farther what they ſaid; then both of them conſidered a while, and ſaid, they could remember no more, only they ſaid ſomewhat of the Parliament of England, which they did not underſtand. And by ſuch time as we had done this conference, the company was gathered together, and we went to Prayer, and I did ſolemnly bleſſe God who had given them ſo much underſtanding in his truth, and ſome ability to diſcerne between Truth and Error, and an heart to ſtand for the Truth, and againſt Error; and I cannot but take it as a Divine Teſtimony of Gods bleſſing upon my poor labours; I afterwards gave him an anſwer to his firſt queſtion, viz. Why they having the ſame Bible with us, yet ſpake not the ſame things? And I anſwered him by that Text, 2 Theſ. 2. 10, 11. Becauſe they received not the love of the truth that they might be ſaved, for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them strong deluſions that they ſhould beleeve a lye. This text I opened unto them; I will adde no more at preſent to manifeſt their proficiency in knowledge.
The preſent work of the Lord that is to be done among them, is to gather them together from their ſcattered kinde of life; Firſt, unto Civil Society, then to Eccleſiaſtical, and both by the Divine direction of the Word of the Lord; they are ſtill earneſtly deſirous of it; and this Spring that is paſt, they were very importunately deſirous to have been upon that work, and to have planted corne in the place intended; but I did diſſwade, and was forced to uſe this reaſon of delay, becauſe I hoped for tools, and meanes from England, whereby to proſecute the work this Summer. But when ſhips came, and no ſupply, you may eaſily think what a damping it was; and truly my heart ſmote me, that I had looked too much at man and meanes, in ſtoping their earneſt affections with that barre which proved a Blank. I began without any ſuch reſpect, and I thought that the Lord would have me ſo to go on, and only look to him for help, whoſe work it is; and when I had thus looked up to the Lord, I adviſed with our Elders and ſome other of our Church, whoſe hearts conſented with me; then I adviſed with divers of the Elders at Boston Lecture, and Mr. Cottons anſwer was, my heart ſayeth, go on, and look to the Lord onelyonly for help, the reſt alſo concuring; So I commended it to our Church, and we ſought God in a day of faſting and prayer about it, (together with other cauſes) and have been ever ſince a doing, according to our abilities; and this I account a favour of God, that that very night, before we came from our place of meeting, we had notice of a Ship from England whereby I received Letters, and ſome encouragement in the work from private friends; a mercy which God had in ſtore, but unknown to ſome, and ſo contrived by the Lord, that I ſhould receive it as a fruit of prayer.
The place alſo is of Gods providing, as a fruit of prayer; for when I, with ſome that went with me, had rode to a place of ſome hopefull expectation, when we came to it, it was in no wiſe ſutable; … went behind a Rock, and looked to the Lord, and committed the matter to him; and while J was travelling in Woods, Chriſtian friends were in prayer at home; and ſo it was, that though one of our company fell ſick in the Woods, ſo that we were forced home with ſpeed; yet in the way home, the Jndians in our company, upon enquiry deſcribing a place to me, and guiding us over ſome part of it, the Lord did both by his providence then, and by after more diligent ſearch of the place, diſcover that there it was his pleaſure we ſhould begin this work. When graſſe was fit to cut, J ſent ſome Jndians to mow, and others to make ſome hay at the place, becauſe we muſt oft ride thither in the Autumn when graſſe is withered and dead, and eſpecially in the Spring before any graſſe is come, and there is proviſion for our horſes; this work was performd well, as I found when I went up to them with my man to order it. We muſt alſo of neceſſity have an houſe to lodge in, meet in, and lay up our proviſions and clothes, which cannot be in Wigwams. I ſet them therefore to fell and ſquare timber for an houſe, and when it was ready, I went, and many of them with me, and on their ſhoulders carried all the timber together, &c. Theſe things they chearfully do; but this alſo I do, I pay them wages carefully for all ſuch works I ſet them about, which is a good encouragement to labour. I purpoſe, God willing, to call them together this Autumne to break and prepare their own ground againſt the Spring, and for other neceſſary works, which are not afew, in ſuch an enterprize. There is a great river which divideth between their planting grounds and dwelling place, through which, though they eaſily wade in Summer, yet in the Spring its deep, and unfit for daily paſſing over, eſpecially of women and children; therefore I thought it neceſſary, that this Autumne we ſhould make a foot Bridge over, againſt ſuch time in the Spring as they ſhall have daily uſe of it; I told them my purpoſe and reaſon of it, wiſhed them to go with me to do that work, which they chearfully did, and with their own hands did build a Bridge eighty foot long, and nine foot high in the midſt, that it might ſtand above the floods; when we had done, I cald them together, prayed, and gave thanks to God, and taught them out of a portion of Scripture, and at parting I told them, I was glad of their readineſſe to labour, when I adviſed them thereunto; and in as much as it hath been hard and tedious labour in the water, if any of them deſired wages for their work, I would give it them; yet being it is for their owne uſe, if they ſhould do all this labour in love, I ſhould take it well, and as I may have occaſion, remember it; they anſwered me, they were farre from deſiring any wages when they do their own work; but on the other ſide they were thankful to me that I had called them, and counſelled them in a work ſo needful for them, whereto I replyed, I was very glad to ſee them ſo ingenuous.
This buſineſſe of praying to God (for that is their general name of Religion) hath hitherto found oppoſition only from the Pawwawes and profane ſpirits; but now the Lord hath exerciſed us with another and a greater oppoſition; for the Sachems of the Country are generally ſet againſt us, and counter-work the Lord by keeping off their men from praying to God as much as they can; And the reaſon of it is this, They plainly ſee that Religion will make a great change among them, and cut them off from their former tyranny; for they uſed to hold their people in an abſolute ſervitude, inſomuch as what ever they had, and themſelves too were at his command; his language was, as one ſaid (omne meum;) now they ſee that Religion teaches otherwiſe, and puts a bridle upon ſuch uſurpations; Beſides their former manner was, that if they wanted money, or if they deſired any thing from a man, they would take occaſion to rage and be in a great anger; which when they did perceive, they would give him all they had to pacifie him; for elſe their way was to ſuborne ſome villain (of which they have no lack) to finde ſome opportunity to kill him; This keeps them in great awe of their Sachems, and is one reaſon why none of them deſire any wealth, only from hand to mouth, becauſe they are but ſervants, and they get it not for themſelves; But now if their Sachem ſo rage, and give ſharp and cruell language, inſtead of ſeeking his favour with gifts (as formerly) they will admoniſh him of his ſinne; tell him that is not the right way to get money; but he muſt labour, and then he may have money, that is Gods command, &c. And as for Tribute, ſome they are willing to pay, but not as formerly. Now theſe are great temptations to the Sachems, and they had need of a good meaſure both of wiſdome and grace to ſwallow this Pill▪ and it hath ſet them quite off; And I ſuppoſe that hence it is, that (I having requeſted the Court of Commiſſioners for a ge…eral way to be thought of to inſtruct all the Indians in all parts, and I told the Indians that I did ſo, which they would ſoon ſpread; and ſtill in my prayers, I pray for the Monohegens, Narraganſets, &c.) the Monohegen Indians were much troubled leſt the Court of Commiſſioners ſhould take ſome courſe to teach them to pray to God; and Ʋnkus their Sachem went to Hartford this Court (for there they ſate) and expreſſed to Elder Goodwin his feare of ſuch a thing, and manifeſted a great unwillingneſſe thereunto; this one of our Commiſſioners told me at his coming home.
This temptation hath much troubled Cutſhamoquin our Sachem, and he was raiſed in his ſpirit to ſuch an height, that at a meeting after Lecture, he openly conteſted with me againſt our proceeding to make a Town; and plainly told me that all the Sachems in the Countrey were againſt it, &c. When he did ſo carry himſelf, all the …ndians were filled with fear, their countenances grew pale, and moſt of them ſlunk away, a few ſtayed, and I was alone, not any Engliſh man with me; But it pleaſed God (for it was his guidance of me, and aſſiſtance) to raiſe up my ſpirit, not to paſſion, but to a bold reſolution, telling him it was Gods work I was about, and he was with me, and I feared not him, nor all the Sachems in the Country, and I was reſolved to go on do what they can, and they nor he ſhould hinder that which I had begun, &c. And it pleaſed God that his ſpirit ſhrunk and fell before me, which when thoſe Indians that tarried ſaw, they ſmiled as they durſt, out of his ſight, and have been much ſtrengthned ever ſince; and ſince I underſtand that in ſuch conflicts their manner is, that they account him that ſhrinks to be conquered, and the other to conquer; which alas I knew not, nor did I aime at ſuch a matter, but the Lord carried me beyond my thoughts and wont; after this brunt was over, I took my leave to go home, and Cutſhamoquin went a little way with me, and told me that the reaſon of this trouble was, becauſe the Indians that pray to God, ſince they have ſo done, do not pay him tribute as formerly they have done; I anſwered him that once before when I heard of his complaint that way, I preached on that text, Give unto Caeſar what is Caeſars, and unto God what is Gods; and alſo on Rom. 13. naming him the matter of the texts (not the places of which he is ignorant) But he ſaid its true, I taught them well, but they would not in that point do as I taught them; And further he ſaid, this thing are all the Sachems ſenſible of, and therefore ſet themſelves againſt praying to God; and then I was troubled, leſt (if they ſhould be ſinfully unjuſt) they ſhould both hinder and blemiſh the Goſpel and Religion; I did therefore conſult with the Magiſtrates and Mr.Cotton and other Elders; Mr. Cottons text by Gods providence, the next Lecture gave him occaſion to ſpeak to it, which I fore-knowing adviſed ſome that underſtood Engliſh beſt, to be there; and partly by what they heard, and by what I had preached to the like purpoſe, and told them what Mr. Cotton ſaid, &c. they were troubled, and fell to reckon up what they had done in two yeers paſt, a few of them that lived at one of the places I preached unto; I took down the particulars in writing, as followeth. At one time they gave him twenty buſhels of corne, at another time more then ſixe buſhels; two hunting dayes they killed him fifteen Deeres; they brake up for him two Acres of Land, they made for him a great houſe or Wigwam, they made twenty rod of fence for him, with a Ditch and two Railes about it, they paid a debt for him of 3. li. 10. s. only ſome others were contributors in this money; one of them gave him a skin of Beaver of two pound, at his returne from building, beſides many dayes works in planting corne altogether, and ſome ſeverally; yea they ſaid, they would willingly do more if they would govern well by juſtice, and as the word of God taught them; when I heard all this, I wondred, for this cometh to neere 30. li. and was done by a few, and they thought it not much if he had carried matters better; and yet his complaint was, they do nothing; But the bottome of it lieth here, he formerly had all or what he would; now he hath but what they will; and admonitions alſo to rule better, and he is provoked by other Sachems, and ill counſel, not to ſuffer this, and yet doth not know how to help it; hence ariſe his tentations, in which I do very much pity him. Having all this information what they had done, and how cauſeleſſe his complaint and diſcontent was, I thought it a difficult thing to eaſe his ſpirit, and yet clear and juſtifie the people, which I was to endeavour the next day of our meeting after the former conteſtations, therefore I was willing to get ſome body with me; And by Gods providence, Elder Heath went with me, and when we came there, we found him very full of diſcontent, ſighing, ſower looks, &c. but we took no notice of it.
I preached that day out of the fourth of Matthew, the temptations of Chriſt; and when I came at that temptation, of the Devils ſhowing Chriſt the kingdomes and glories of the world, thereby to tempt him from the ſervice of God, to the ſervice of the Devill; I did apply it wholly to his caſe, ſhewing him the Devill was now tempting him, as he tempted Chriſt; and Sathan ſheweth him all the delights and dignities, and gifts and greatneſſe that he was wont to have in their ſinfull way; Satan alſo tels him he ſhall loſe them all if he pray to God, but if he will give over praying to God he ſhall have them all again; then I ſhewed him how Chriſt rejected that temptation, and exhorted him to reject it alſo, for either he muſt reject the temptation, or elſe he will reject praying to God; if he ſhould reject praying to God, God would reject him.
After our exerciſe was ended, we had conference of the matter, and we gave him the beſt counſel we could (as the Lord was pleaſed to aſſiſt) and when we had done, Elder Heath his obſervation of him was, that there was a great change in him, his ſpirit was very much lightned, and it much appeared both in his countenance and carriage, and he hath carried all things fairly ever ſince.
But the temptation ſtill doth work ſtrongly, in the Countrey the Sachems oppoſing any that deſire to ſubmit themſelves to the ſervice of the Lord, as appeareth ſundry wayes; ſome that began to liſten, are gone quite back; I meane Sachems and ſome people that have a mind to it, are kept back; this laſt Lecture day one came in and ſubmitted himſelf to call on God, and ſaid he had been kept back this half yeer by oppoſition, but now at laſt the Lord hath helped and emboldned him to break through all oppoſition.
Thus Sathan ſeeketh to beat off theſe poore creatures from ſeeking after the Lord by oppoſing the higheſt powers they have againſt the Lord and this work of his, knowing that the light of the Goſpel and kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt (if it once get footing) will ſcatter and diſſipate that darkneſſe whereby his kingdome is maintained; But I beleeve verily that the Lord will bring great good out of all theſe oppoſitions, nay I ſee it already, (though I ſee not all, I beleeve more then I can ſee; you who can know the thoughts of Gods love to his people, it is yet a ſecret) but this I ſee, that by this oppoſition the wicked are kept off from us, and from thruſting themſelves into our ſociety, at leaſt ſundry are, who elſe might croud in among us and trouble us; beſides it is become ſome tryall now, to come into our company and call upon God; for beſides the forſaking of their Pau-waus, (which was the firſt triall) and their old barbarous faſhions and liberty to all ſinne, and ſome of their friends and kindred, &c. Now this is added, they incurre the diſpleaſure of their Sachems, all which put together, it cannot but appear there is ſome work of God upon their hearts, which doth carry them through all theſe ſnares, and adde to this, that if upon ſome competent time of experience, we ſhall finde them to grow in knowledge of the principles of Religion, and to love the wayes of the Lord the better, according as they come to underſtand them, and to yeeld obedience to them, and ſubmit to this great change, to bridle luſt by lawes of chaſtity, and to mortifie idleneſſe by labour, and deſire to traine up their children accordingly; I ſay if we ſhall ſee theſe things in ſome meaſure in them, what ſhould hinder charity from hoping that there is grace in their hearts, a ſpark kindled by the Word and Spirit of God that ſhall never be quenched; and were theſe in a fixed cohabitation, who could gain-ſay their gathering together into a holy Church-Covenant and election of Officers? and who can forbid that they ſhould be baptized? And I am perſwaded that there be ſundry ſuch among them, whom the Lord will vouchſafe ſo far to favour and ſhine upon, that they ſhall become a Church, and a Spouſe of Jeſus Chriſt, and among whom the pure and holy Kingdome of Chriſt ſhall ariſe, and over whom Chriſt ſhall reigne, ruling them in all things by his holy word.
But though this trouble and oppſition is turned (and ſhall be more) unto a ſpiritual gaine, yet it behoveth us not to be ſecure, and regardleſſe of our ſafety; for if the Adverſary ſhould diſcerne us naked and weak, and ſee an opportunity, who knoweth what their rage and Sathans malice may ſtirre them up unto to work us a miſchief? Nay, it is our duty to be vigilant, and fortifie our ſelves the beſt we can, thereby to put the enemy out of hope to hurt us, and to prevent them from attempting any evill againſt us, if it be the will of God; and to that end we purpoſe (if the Lord will) to make a ſtrong Palizado (wanting means of doing better) and if we cannot get any Guns, Powder, Shot, Swords, &c. we will make us Slings, Bowes, and other Engines, the beſt the Lord will pleaſe to direct us for our ſafety; and when we have uſed the beſt meanes we can, I hope the Lord will help us to truſt in his great name, to make that our ſtrong Tower to flie unto.
I ſee the Lord delighteth to appear himſelf in the work, and will have us content our ſelves with little, low, poor things, that all the power and praiſe may be given to his great name; Our work in civilizing them will go on the more ſlowly for want of tools; for though I have bought a few for them, we can do but little, for alas afew will ſet but afew on work, and they be very dear too; had I ſtore of hoſes this Autumne either to lend them or ſell them at moderate prizes, we ſhould prepare (by Gods bleſſing) good ſtore of ground for corne againſt next yeere; and had I wherewith to buy corne to carry up to the place, and have it in a readineſſe to ſupply them, that ſo they might tarry at their work, and not be ſhut off through neceſſity to go get food, that alſo would be a great furtherance; and had we but means to maintaine a diſcreet diligent man to work with them, and guide them in work, that alſo would much further the work; and many ſuch things I could propound as very requiſite unto the work, but I lay my hand upon my mouth, I will ſay no more, I have left it with the Lord, who hath hitherto appeared, and he will appear for his own eternal praiſe in ſhining upon the day of our ſmal things in his due ſeaſon.
The bleſſing of God upon this work doth comfortably, hopefuly, & ſucceſſefuly, appear in the labours of my brother Mahu at Martins Vineyard, inſomuch that I hope they alſo will be after awhile ripe for this work of Civility and Cohabitation, if once they ſee a ſucceſſeful pattern of it, and I doubt not but they will (as theſe do) ere long, deſire Church-fellowſhip, and the Ordinances of Gods worſhip; the cloud increaſeth, and the Lord ſeemeth to be coming in among them▪ they are very deſirous to have their children taught, which is one argument that they truly love the knowledge of God; as on the contrary, it is a great ground of doubt of the truth of grace in that mans heart, when he hath not an heart to take care to traine up his children in the truth and in the practiſe of all godlineſſe, but this care is in them, and it is pity it ſhould not be furthered by all meanes; I have intreated a woman living neer where they dwell, to do that office for their children, and I pay her for it; but when they go to their plantation, we ſhall be in a ſtreight for help that way; the Indians ſo well like the parties who performeth that ſervice, that they intreat them to go with them, which I look at as a finger of God; they are I hope a godly couple, and might be a bleſſing to them, had we meanes to encourage them unto ſo difficult an enterprize, for it is a great matter to go and live among ſuch a people; but in that caſe alſo, I look up to the Lord, and leave it with his holy care and wiſdome; and if the Lord move any hearts to help in this work, I deſire that the care of their ſchooling may be among the chiefeſt cares.
If the Lord pleaſe to proſper our poor beginnings, my purpoſe is, (ſo for as the Lord ſhal enable me to give attendance unto the work) to have ſchoole exerciſes for all the men by daily inſtructing of them to read and write, &c. Yea if the Lord affords us fit inſtruments, my deſire is, that all the women may be taught to read; I know the matter will be difficult every way, for Engliſh people can only teach them to read Engliſh; and for their own Language we have no book; my deſire therefore is to teach them all to write, and read written hand, and thereby with pains taking, they may have ſome of the Scriptures in their own Language; I have one already who can write, ſo that I can read his writing well, and he (with ſome paines and teaching) can read mine; I hope the Lord will both inlarge his underſtanding, and others alſo to do as he doth; and if once I had ſome of themſelves able to ſpell aright, write and read, it might further the work exceedingly, and will be the ſpeedieſt way.
Sir, When I had gone thus farre in my Letters, by a Ship that came in, you wrote unto our Governour touching the two Libraries, my brother Welds and Mr. Jenners, and of the willingneſſe of the Corporation to diſcharge for them, for which cauſe I do humbly thank the Worſhipful Corporation, all the Chriſtian and much reſpected Gentlemen my loving friends. And Sir, I thank you for all your faithful pains in this work, and the more I am obliged thereunto, becauſe herein I am like to partake of the fruit of your labours, the Lord Jeſus give you a full reward.
Whereas you require the Catalogue of both Libraries, it ſhall be done (if God will) but I am to go into the Countrey to the Indians now, and have much buſineſſe, therefore know not whether I can do it by this Ship, if I can I will.
This laſt Court of Commiſſioners ſate at Hartford Conecticot, ſo that I could not ſpeak with them, but this courſe I took by our Governours advice; our General Court gave him with ſome other, power to give inſtructions to our Commiſſioners; therefore all my requeſts I did write unto him, and he gave them in his Inſtructions to our Commiſſioners, ſo they went ſtrong.
Sir,
I have done at preſent, Mr. Whitfeld will informe you farther in any particulars if need be: The Lord of heaven bleſſe and aſſiſt you in all your wayes, and I beg your prayers for me ſtill, and ſo reſt
Roxbury this 21 of the 8th. 50 Yours in our Lord Jeſus. JOHN ELIOT.